Fifth, and this really isn't a surprise so much as it is a joy– I saw the power of the Gospel.
Night after night, girl after girl, teen after teen, child after child, ladyboy after ladyboy, homeless person after homeless person… we shared the love of Christ. It isn't illegal to be a Christian in Thailand, meaning we could openly proclaim on the streets, "Phra Yesu Ra Kuhn" – Jesus loves you. And to the women, "Kuhn suay mahk"- You are beautiful. It literally brought light to the darkness, found smiles, and let us go places where we couldn't enter before. It even encouraged me to say it to them, reminding me that yes, Jesus loves me!
Thailand is traditionally Buddhist, meaning that to be a Thai is to be Buddhist… as is being Indian is to be Hindu. Religion is so culturally ingrained in life that conversion would mean possible exile from the family and the desertion of practicing so many things that are believed to make a person "Thai" (observing certain holidays, traditions, etc.) We met so many people who said that they were Buddhist because their families were, and for that reason, would not think of any other religion. Thankfully, we weren't there to share religion! And the truth that Jesus Loves You can't easily be forgotten.
The reality of Buddhism in Thailand was the most evident to me the day our first team went to the Grand Palace. We planned to take the second team there was well, but it flooded two days after our first visit. As we walked the grounds that hot October morning, I was struck by how beautiful it was. The PL for the first team, Lynn, said that was part of the allure of Buddhism – it was enticing and pretty… not scary with gods with grotesque features demanding worship. As I stood in the Emerald Temple and watched people bowing before the Buddha (which is interesting, because when Buddha was alive he said he didn't want to be worshiped), it made me incredibly sad. I wanted to tell the crowds about the One who loves them… who sees them, who hears them…. instead of the silent, golden statue incapable of anything.
I hesitate to share this next story, simply because I don't ever want to bring any kind of recognition to myself. But I want to tell it because personally it meant a lot to me.
On our team off day, everyone decided to go to the Floating Market and Elephant Village, where we would be able to ride elephants. It was something we were all looking forward to. And something we talked about in the team is that even though it was a "day off", we're never really "off the clock" when it comes to being Christians. We just need to be listening to the Holy Spirit and watching to see where He is leading. So really, that morning we left for another ministry day.
A van came to pick us up and as the team of 8 started to pile in, we realized one person was going to need to sit in the front. Since I get car sick, common sense said it needed to be me. As I climbed into to the front bench seat (so there was a driver, the tour guide, and myself on this seat), I found myself missing my team. I could hear them laughing and talking in the back and I wanted to be a part of it. But I figured, maybe this would give me some introverted rest, time to pray… maybe even sleep. So I settled in.
Then the tour guide, Lek, started talking with me. He asked me questions about America. He asked me to edit his tour itinerary in English, so that Westerners could better understand it. I asked him questions about Thailand.
We were stuck in this vehicle for 90 minutes, so I figured a great conversation would make the time pass quickly.
When we were half an hour away from the market, Lek's questions changed. He asked about Christianity and rules, so I told him about grace. About how before Jesus came, there were a bunch of rules we all had to follow, and that if we broke any of them, that we had to pay the price. But God knew we couldn't keep the rules by ourselves, so He sent His Son to pay the price of our sin. Jesus came and died on the cross – and rose again- and that if we choose to worship Him as God and live for Him, that He forgives us when we do wrong.
He asked about the Old Testament and we talked about it and the Ten Commandments. But I told him that Jesus said that there are really two commandments: to love God with all of our hearts, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. And that if we keep those two commandments, we will keep the Ten Commandments. But that if we don't believe in Jesus and we break one of the Ten Commandments, that when we die, we will go to hell.
He asked more questions, and I kept praying that God would give me the words. I told him that if I killed someone, I had to go to court. I'd be a murderer and there would be a punishment. I could go to jail for life or be killed myself as payment. But it was as if Jesus stood there in court and said, "I will take Kristen's punishment, so that she can live. But she has to accept it."
Lek said, "Oh." When I told him that the Bible says that if we break one part of the Ten Commandments, we break them all (James 2:10), but that if we ask Jesus for forgiveness He will give it, Lek said, "Oh" again.
About 10 minutes before we arrived, the van, which had conversation still going in the back, was quiet. My team told me later that they heard a little of the conversation and started praying. And I know that God was giving me the words, because I have never had an opportunity like that to share the gospel as clearly as I was able to. Even now, retelling it, it isn't as clear as it was on that day. Simply, it wasn't me. That's all I can say.
As far as I know, Lek didn't make a decision for Christ that day. But Lek is a thinker. I could tell he wasn't just talking to me as an American tourist. At first, yes. He wanted to know if all the homes in America had internet. But then, his tone changed. His questions changed. I could see him thinking.
Lek had told me that in order to improve his English (which is important for a tour guide to Westerners), he read the Bible sometimes. So before I left, I gave him a list of verses to read, verses that said the same thing we talked about. And I gave him the name and address of a local church, where he could go to find answers to his questions.
Will you pray with me for Lek? Pray that he keeps reading the Bible? That he doesn't forget our conversation… not because it has anything to do with me, but because of Christ? Will you pray that he keeps seeking until he chooses Christ?
" But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15
